Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
lovable subtle details
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: latjoreme on May 04, 2006, 07:14:17 pm ---Then he asks Jack, "The army didn't get ya?" using the exact words that Jack had used when they left Signal. Suggesting that Ennis has gone over and over that sad conversation in his mind -- and perhaps worrying about the prospect of Jack's getting drafted -- for four years.
--- End quote ---
Good one, Friend! I also, like that he clearly has been worrying about that punch for 4 years too... also probably turning that "confusing tussle" over and over in his mind. It's probably a relief for him to resolve that issue and get some closure on how they left things at the end of the Brokeback summer. It's cute to realize that by the time of the reunion Jack doesn't seem too bothered about the punch anymore. He seems to be a pro at letting hurtful things roll off of him.
OK, new totally unrelated details-
I love every shot when we see either Jack or Ennis carrying a lamb around with them up on their horse. Absolutely adorable. I also love the scene where Jack is picking something out of the hoof of a lamb that's lounging on his lap. I love how relaxed that sheep looks. I also love that Ennis is just sitting their smoking.
This just feeds into my whole thing about Jack being equated with the lambs and the idea that Ennis feels such a deep sense of duty to protect them and look after them. Awww....
moremojo:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 04, 2006, 09:00:21 pm --- I also love the scene where Jack is picking something out of the hoof of a lamb that's lounging on his lap. I love how relaxed that sheep looks. I also love that Ennis is just sitting their smoking.
This just feeds into my whole thing about Jack being equated with the lambs and the idea that Ennis feels such a deep sense of duty to protect them and look after them. Awww....
--- End quote ---
I like this little moment too, Amanda, and like how you articulate how Ennis may already be growing more protective of Jack, even at this early stage. I like the confidence that Jack exudes here in performing his task, and the respect and casual interest with which Ennis regards the scene.
Here's another little thought that I just had yesterday, for the first time. This can only remain speculation, of course, but I wondered if Ennis's initial complaint about the harmonica (more specifically, Jack playing the harmonica) might have hidden his longing to have Jack engage him in conversation. He's trying to engage Jack's attention when commenting on the tent, and Jack does interrupt his playing to respond to Ennis. Just a thought.
Scott
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: moremojo on May 05, 2006, 10:58:31 pm ---Here's another little thought that I just had yesterday, for the first time. This can only remain speculation, of course, but I wondered if Ennis's initial complaint about the harmonica (more specifically, Jack playing the harmonica) might have hidden his longing to have Jack engage him in conversation. He's trying to engage Jack's attention when commenting on the tent, and Jack does interrupt his playing to respond to Ennis. Just a thought.
--- End quote ---
interestingly enough, there's a reversal in dynamic between the boys in that scene. It's Ennis complaining and wanting to fix the tent, but Jack is the one that says we'll just stand it.
Brown Eyes:
good point starboardlight. moremojo, I do like the idea that Ennis might be sort of *jealous* of that harmonica because it's causing Jack to be distracted and not talk to him. cute.
About the lambs and Ennis's sense of being protective... I think this is one detail in Proulx's story that seems important (and it comes through in the film in varying ways) that Ennis seems to have felt very guilty that he wasn't there to help/ protect Jack at the time of his death. Clearly Ennis is convinced that Jack was murdered... so on one hand Ennis feels guilty that he wasn't there to protect Jack from becoming a victim of "predator loss" ... and on the other hand if Jack died due to the accident (drowning in his own blood) Ennis is mad and feels guilty that no one (not even Ennis himself) was there to roll Jack over to save him. This is quite explicit in the phone call episode with Lureen in Proulx's story.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on May 06, 2006, 12:00:32 am ---About the lambs and Ennis's sense of being protective... I think this is one detail in Proulx's story that seems important (and it comes through in the film in varying ways) that Ennis seems to have felt very guilty that he wasn't there to help/ protect Jack at the time of his death. Clearly Ennis is convinced that Jack was murdered... so on one hand Ennis feels guilty that he wasn't there to protect Jack from becoming a victim of "predator loss" ... and on the other hand if Jack died due to the accident (drowning in his own blood) Ennis is mad and feels guilty that no one (not even Ennis himself) was there to roll Jack over to save him. This is quite explicit in the phone call episode with Lureen in Proulx's story.
--- End quote ---
Too sad, Amanda. You're right, though. Ennis' protectiveness of Jack gets underestimated because in most cases it's Jack nurturing Ennis when Ennis goes through some emotional crisis. But Ennis was protective enough about Jack to order soup, and to worry when he saw a storm approaching as Jack was on the mountain ... I think it's very clear in the story and pretty clear in the movie that he feels terrible about that. Especially because his refusal to live with Jack was based (or at least partly based) on the fear of this very outcome.
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